Swansea is to host a free concert on December 10 to celebrate the momentous day it officially became a city.
On December 10 in 1969 letters of patent were issued by HRH Queen Elizabeth II which officially confirmed Swansea as only the second town in Wales to be granted city status.
These documents confirmed an announcement that Swansea was to receive city status made by HRH Prince Charles on July 3 in 1969 during a visit here to celebrate his investiture as Prince of Wales.
To mark the official day Swansea became a city, the Local Authority is planning a concert at the Brangwyn Hall where the presentation of the official document was made four decades ago.
Eight hundred free tickets are being made available to enable Swansea residents to join in the celebrations.
The event on December 10 will include stars such as Steve Balsamo and Mal Pope and the Jacks. Songs through the decades will be performed as well as latest stage hit Cappuccino Girls. The event will be hosted by Kevin Johns.
The letters patent that confirm the city status complete with the royal seal are on display at the Guildhall.
The event will be the climax of celebrations of Swansea becoming a city which have included a garden party for people celebrating their 40th birthday or 40th wedding anniversary.
A time capsule is also being stored in the archives at Swansea’s civic centre for the next 40 years and will be opened on the city’s 80th birthday celebrations.
In July a Freedom Ceremony for 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (The Welsh Cavalry) that included a march through the city centre took place.
And babies born in the City and County on July 3 this year were given a unique silver coin especially commissioned from the Royal Mint.
There is also an online exhibition including photographs and video clips celebrating the anniversary at http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=30127
Swansea’s Lord Mayor Cllr Alan Lloyd, the only serving Swansea Councillor who was also a Councillor when Swansea officially became a city said:
“I am delighted we are holding this free concert because becoming a city was a landmark event in the life of Swansea. We have been moving steadily forward since that day and that surely makes it an important anniversary for us to celebrate.
“It seems like nothing could stop Swansea once it was granted its city status. The city centre was back on its feet by the 1960s but we still had areas of dereliction and decay. It is easy to forget a time when the Marina we have today was a derelict dock and the lower Swansea Valley was just wasteland.
“I hope people will join us to celebrate Swansea’s historic day, its successful development over the past 40 years and the promise of more to come in the next four decades.”
Anyone who would like to attend the event can contact Swansea Council’s Corporate Marketing Team by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01792 637553 or 01792 637554. Tickets are limited to two per person and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
